Sleep Experts Examine Social Media Sleep Trends
During a segment of “Fox & Friends” focused on wellness, sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins discussed various sleep trends seen on social media. Topics included melatonin, mouth taping, cooling pillows, and sleep trackers. She emphasized the significance of melatonin in regulating circadian rhythms and shared insights on how mouth taping might enhance nasal breathing. Additionally, she highlighted that a sleep environment around 65 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. For overall health and longevity, Robbins recommends that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
A recent study has discovered that regularly getting less sleep can lead to weight gain over time. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the research showed that adults who slept roughly 90 minutes less per night over six weeks gained about one pound more on average compared to periods of sufficient sleep.
Conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the study tracked 95 adults already at risk for heart or metabolic diseases, comparing six weeks of adequate sleep with six weeks of reduced sleep. By the end of the sleep restriction phase, participants not only gained an average of one pound but also saw a slight increase in waist circumference. Although they sat more during the day, their levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity stayed similar.
Despite the weight gain, the researchers did not find significant changes in body fat or muscle mass. It’s also worth noting that food intake wasn’t monitored, leaving the reasons for weight increase somewhat unclear.
Dr. Somi Javaid, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Ohio, pointed out the key role of sleep in regulating metabolism. She mentioned that chronic sleep deprivation can hinder weight management, particularly for women in menopause, as sleep issues can become more prevalent during this phase of life. Javaid commented, “We’re damaging sleep at a time when a woman’s metabolism is starting to shift. It’s important to address diet and exercise too.”
The American Heart Association now recognizes sleep as one of the “eight essentials” for maintaining heart health and recommends adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Javaid reiterated that chronic sleep deprivation shouldn’t be seen as a normal lifestyle choice, urging people to view sleep as an important health indicator.
The findings suggest that consistently getting less sleep could lead to weight gain, but the researchers acknowledged some limitations of the study. They indicated that six weeks might not be enough time to notice significant changes in body fat, which may require a longer duration to develop compared to weight changes.
Furthermore, the small sample size affected their ability to draw comparisons across different participant groups. The researchers also mentioned that some hormone measurements taken in the morning might not capture daily fluctuations.
